Rod and Hammers SLO Stills Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750 ml

Rod & Hammer's SLO Stills Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a small-batch, craft bourbon distilled in San Luis Obispo on California's Central Coast — a genuine grain-to-glass operation rather than a sourced and rebottled whiskey, which is worth noting given how much of the craft bourbon category is the latter. The "straight bourbon" designation on the label means it's legally required to have aged at least two years in new charred American oak, made from a mash of corn, rye, and malted barley. It's a smaller regional label, so expect batch variation, but the house style leans toward a caramel-and-oak driven bourbon typical of West Coast craft distilling.

How to drink Rod & Hammer's SLO Stills Bourbon

Try it neat first to get a read on this particular batch, since small-batch bourbons like this can shift release to release. On the rocks or in a simple Old Fashioned both work if you want to soften it.

BourbonMash bill: corn, rye, malted barley · new charred American oak · California